A/N: There have been several reviewers who have mentioned Rita and I realized that I didn't wrap up that plot point. In my mind, Rita is no longer part of Deacon's world in the aftermath of his being dropped by his label. That could be either by way of her dropping him or him firing her, but in any case, she is no longer his manager. Sorry to have inadvertently left that piece out!
Rayna
She was sure a lot of what she was feeling was because of the head cold, but she just didn't really want to talk about Luke or anything that happened around that. Especially with Deacon. She didn't want to blame him for what had happened, but there had just been too much confusion around those couple days. It wasn't really his fault anyway. It had just reminded her of who she'd always been. She slid down off the stool and took the bowls and spoons and put them in the sink. Then she turned around to face him. "You know, I'm really feeling exhausted and my head is killing me. I want to take some more cold medicine and take a nap."
He got off the stool. "Sure. I shouldn't have stayed."
He probably shouldn't have. She gave him a little smile. "Thank you for the soup though. It was really good."
"You're welcome." He turned and headed for the door and she trailed after him. When he got to the door he turned around to face her. "I hope you're feeling better soon."
"Thanks. Me too." He opened the door and walked out and she closed it behind him. Then she went right to the stairs and up to her room. After taking some cold medicine that would make her drowsy, she curled up on her bed and fell asleep.
It was 2 days later and she was feeling somewhat better. She still felt a little weak and congested and was still sleeping a lot, but she could tell she was on the mend. She worried a little about Tandy still having to keep the kids. Although Tandy was a loving aunt and she had Hannah during the day, she was a working woman with a lot on her plate, so she considered that maybe Deacon could take them. He would be getting them in a couple days anyway, so she felt sure that he would. She would check in with him later.
Bucky called at 11:00, as he'd said he would. "Hey, Buck," she said. Her voice was still raspy and the cough was still there on occasion.
"Hey there, Rayna," he said, sounding concerned. "How're you feeling today?"
"Believe it or not, better. So I'm guessing you have some tour news."
"I do. I've got some dates locked in starting Memorial Day weekend, probably a third of the total we want to have. You'll start the tour with 2 nights at the Ryman, heading to Chattanooga afterwards and then Knoxville. I'm waiting to confirm the Knoxville venue but we should be good. Then we hit Lexington, Louisville, and the Ohio cities. We'll get to Detroit, Indy, St. Louis. Oh, Pittsburgh too, I forgot. We'll be in Chicago in late June. 4 dates at the Chicago Theater. Then we'll head down through the Midwest, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and into Texas. Some of these, because we're having to take smaller venues, will be 2 night stops. Still working on out west to the West Coast, the southeast and up the East Coast. We'll finish in Nashville at the arena."
"Sounds pretty aggressive."
"It is. But we're trying to get a whole tour into basically 3 months instead of spreading it out over 5, 5½. One thing I'm looking at is in New York City. We've got a couple of options there – we have the theater at the Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theater. Multiple nights are a must. You have a preference?"
"Hmm. Let me think about it and I'll let you know."
"I know you know this, but just to remind you you'll have midweek shows or Thursday shows most weeks." He paused. "Oh, and I confirmed that Simon is leaving. He's going to join Miranda's band."
"Really? He's okay with a less established artist?"
"She's really hot, Rayna, and it's a different vibe. So you may want to think about who you'd like to ask to replace him. I'm looking too of course. It's not super urgent, but we'll want to start rehearsals in about 6 weeks and whoever you bring in will need to learn your music."
She sighed. "I can't believe I'm going through this again. I'll give that some thought as well. Thanks, Buck."
"Feel better."
She disconnected. She was feeling good about how the tour was shaping up but the idea of having to look for another lead guitar player was disheartening. But she didn't want to think about it right then. She needed a clearer head for that. Just then her phone buzzed and she was surprised to see Deacon's name. "Hey," she said.
"Hey. I had a couple things to ask you. First, how are you? Feeling any better?"
"Some. Better than the other day when you were here but not a hundred percent yet. I'm glad you called though. I was thinking if you don't have anything going on, you might like to take Levi and Maddie off Tandy's hands a couple days early. What do you think?
He laughed softly. "That was my second question, if you wanted me to take 'em early. I'm glad to do it and I'm sure Aunt Tandy probably has more important things to do."
"I know she loves having them and she has had Hannah there when she's at work, but yeah, she's probably exhausted. Thanks for doing that. I'll call her and let her know. You can touch base with Hannah on timing."
"I'll do it." He paused. "Is there anything I can do for you? Bring by food or magazines or anything?"
She started to say no, but then she thought about what was in the fridge – not much – and thought it might be nice. The soup was good, but she felt like she needed something a little more substantial. "You know what I would really love? A really good greasy pizza."
He chuckled. "A greasy one?"
"Well, you know what I mean. Maybe one that has some veggies on it so it's not all bad for me."
"I know just the place. And the pizza. I'll be by in about an hour or so."
She hesitated a moment. Then she shook her head. "Thanks. I'll see you then."
Deacon
He went to the pizza place he and Rayna had always liked. The food was good, not expensive, and they could either eat in or take it home. He walked in and ordered a pepperoni and mushroom pizza, which had always been their go to, and added tomatoes and peppers and some extra mushrooms. While he waited for it to be prepared, he called Hannah and let her know he'd be coming to pick up Maddie and Levi after Maddie got home from school. He was glad he could help Rayna out, but he also was always happy to get some extra time with his kids.
In the six weeks or so since Christmas, they had both made efforts to co-exist in an appropriate way. It was almost an unspoken agreement between the two of them that they would not talk about the kiss at the cabin. Either of them. They also hadn't talked much about the end of her engagement to Luke, other than that she'd told him that had happened. And she'd also cautioned him that it didn't change anything for them two of them. He was taking a wait and see attitude on that, but he also didn't know if he thought his chances were good that he could change her mind.
He had done a lot of damage, he'd had to acknowledge. All he could do was bide his time, let her lead, and do whatever he could to show her he was the man he'd been before he'd walked away.
He rang the doorbell and waited. When she opened the door, he could see that she was definitely feeling better than the day he'd brought by soup. She was dressed better and she wasn't as pale. She smiled when she saw him. "Hey. Come on in." She held the door while he walked in and he could see her lean forward a bit and breathe in. Or try to. "I think that smells good," she said with a laugh. "I'm still a little stuffy."
He smiled, then headed for the kitchen and she followed him. He placed the box on the table and opened it. "How does this look?" he asked.
She clasped her hands by her chest. "It looks amazing." She immediately reached for it, then stopped and looked at him. "Do you mind?"
He chuckled. "Go ahead. You want a plate?" She nodded and he turned around and got a plate out of one of the cabinets, setting it on the island in front of her. She got on the stool as she chewed her first bite, closing her eyes as though she were eating the most stunning dish known to man. She opened her eyes and smiled around her food, nodding.
"Oh, this is amazing," she said, after she'd swallowed. She pointed at the pizza. "You can eat some. And thank you so much for doing this."
He grabbed a plate for himself and put 2 slices on it. "You want something to drink?"
"Water, please." He got 2 bottles of water out of her fridge and handed one to her and then took the other one, along with his plate, and sat at the island, with one stool between them, just like when he'd brought the soup. They ate silently for a few minutes. "I have to admit the veggies aren't so bad," he said.
"No, they're not." He watched her as she finished her slice, seeming to savor every bite. Then she reached for another piece and put it on her plate. "I wonder how many times we had this very pizza. Well, without the extra veggies, of course."
He shook his head, laughing. "Too many to remember. If it wasn't pizza it was canned spaghetti or a triple decker cheeseburger."
She grinned. "Oh, yeah, that famous triple decker cheeseburger." She pointed at him. "It needs to be said, though, that I did not eat a triple decker cheeseburger. Just a one decker cheeseburger, as I recall."
He smiled, nodding his head. "Yeah, that's true. That cheeseburger was one of the best things I ever ate too. I also remember you ate my French fries."
"Just some. You know we needed to save money." She took another bite of pizza and looked thoughtful. "Pizza and triple decker cheeseburgers bring back a lot of memories. Song memories."
He nodded. "We did write some good songs, that is fact."
She put her elbows on the island and looked over at him. "You think Maddie and Levi will get into the music industry?"
"If I had to guess, I'd say Maddie for sure. She's got a good ear for music and she's even picking up on some more complicated chords."
She nodded, then turned towards him. "I hear her sometimes in her room. She does seem to have gotten your talent." She sighed. "I worry sometimes though. You and I both know a lot about this industry has changed. It can eat you alive."
"I do know that for a fact," he said, thinking about his own experience.
"It could be useful information to share with her if she decides music is what she wants to do. I just really want her to have a normal childhood, though. Levi too. It's why I want to keep them out of the public as much as I can. And I hope they'll explore lots of different things. It's hard when they see the kind of lives we lead. I don't want them thinking everything's just handed to them."
"I don't think we do that." He got up from the stool. "So I gotta do a couple things before I pick up Maddie from school." He looked at her carefully. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Ray."
She smiled. "Thanks. And thank you again for the pizza."
He took his plate and put it in the sink, then threw away his napkin and water bottle. He headed towards the door and she followed. He opened the door and then turned back to her. "I guess we'll see you next weekend. Take it easy." Suddenly she reached towards him and hugged him. After a moment he put his arms around her and held her close. Then she stepped back and looked up at him.
"You're a good guy, Deacon. Thanks for thinking about me."
He smiled. "You bet." Then he turned and headed out the door and she closed it behind him. As he walked to his truck, he hoped they were getting back to a point where they could at least be friends.
Rayna
"Mom. Mom. Wake up." She opened her eyes and looked to the side. Levi was standing at the edge of the bed. He smiled when he saw she was awake.
"What's going on, buddy?" she asked, smiling back at her little boy.
"Aren't you gonna get up?"
"What time is it?" She looked over at the clock and then frowned. "It's pretty early, sweetie." It wasn't even 6. And it was dark outside, the way it usually was when the time changed in March. She patted the bed next to her. "Why don't you snuggle up with me?"
"Okay," he said happily, jumping up on the bed. He shimmied under the covers and then scooted over next to her.
"Why are you up so early?"
"We gotta get ready for Dad." It was Deacon's week with the kids. While he was still young enough to be a little bit of a mama's boy, enjoying snuggling with her, he was also really bonding with his father. He was always excited to tell her about all the man stuff he did with Deacon, like helping to put logs in the fireplace or the tussling around he and Deacon did.
"Dad's not going to be here for a while, so we have plenty of time to get ready." She turned on her side and put her arm around him. "Let's go back to sleep for a while. I promise we'll be up and ready in plenty of time. Okay?"
He looked a little unsure at first but then he nodded. "Okay."
She kissed him on the forehead and held him close. It wasn't long before he fell asleep. She watched him for a little while. He'd always been sweet natured, but he was also full of energy. She remembered how nervous she was to be a mom to a son, not sure she'd know what to do. In the end, though, it was not a lot different than with Maddie. She just loved him and nurtured him and always tried to make time together fun. She'd been nervous when Deacon had pressed about taking Levi to his house when he was still a newborn, but she had to admit now that it had been good for both of them. Someone, she couldn't remember who, had told her that a boy needed his dad and that had been true.
Deacon would be picking the kids up at noon and she closed her eyes, thinking about what she had planned for the day. It would be low key because the kids would be gone. She didn't know why it popped up in her head, but she realized it was just a couple of weeks until the date she was supposed to marry Luke. She sighed deeply. It felt a little bittersweet. She'd been so sure Luke was the right person for her. But it had all been for the best, she thought, ending things. She felt lighter, like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. And now she was moving forward with appearances at a number of places around town. She had finalized the song list for her next album, which she was calling Little Bits of Heaven, named for the first song on the record, a song about taking joy whenever you could find it. Those little bits of heaven that gave you peace.
She had an aggressive schedule to record the album, which would also allow for some rehearsal. She would be in the studio for 2 weeks and then would be 100% tour rehearsal. The only issue she had was that she and Bucky had still not settled on a lead guitar player to replace Simon and time was running out. She needed to talk to Bucky about her options.
It reminded her that she needed to talk to Deacon about her schedule and how they would handle the kids over the summer. It would be complicated since she would have more weekday shows than usual, but she hoped they could come up with something that would be satisfactory. She looked down at Levi and pushed his hair back gently. It was hard to believe he was already 4½. It seemed like just yesterday he'd been a newborn and she'd held him in her arms. She leaned down and rested her cheek against the top of his head and drifted off into a light sleep.
With the exception of a few dates that would be at the end of the tour, Bucky had everything nailed down. She had agreed to a couple extra weeks at the end but she was satisfied that it would be a great tour, especially with the new album to support. There was only one issue left to deal with and that was a replacement for Simon. She'd come up with an idea she thought would work and tested it with Bucky. He was cautiously optimistic, especially this close to when they needed to start rehearsals for both the tour and the album. She thought about all the conversations she and Bucky had had over the years that started out the same way. The good news was that they almost always worked so she was hopeful this one would work as well.
So, Buck, I have an idea...
Deacon
When Rayna met them at the door, she asked if he could stay for a couple minutes. He wondered what it was about, but he nodded in agreement. She turned to Maddie and Levi. "Y'all, I need to talk to your dad for a minute. You can either take your stuff upstairs and put it away or go in the den. When we're done, we can make some popcorn." The kids ran noisily to the den, not surprisingly, and she turned back to him, an indulgent smile on her face. "Did y'all have a good week?" she asked.
"We did. So what's up?"
She gestured for him to follow her into the seldom used front living room. She motioned for him to sit. He sat on one of the least comfortable couches he thought he'd ever sat on. They had never had a separate living room and den before, until they lived in the Belle Meade house and that room was never furnished. She sat across from him in one of the chairs. She seemed a little nervous but he couldn't imagine what would make her nervous.
"So, you know I'm touring this summer," she said finally. He nodded. "Bucky's pretty much finalized the schedule and I think I told you it would be pretty packed. And it is. When I look at it, I'm not sure how we manage the kids being with you without it being super complicated, which is not what I want." She sighed. "I also have a bit of an issue in that my lead guitar player is leaving to join another tour. Actually has left. We haven't found just the right person, so I had an idea that honestly scares the hell out of me even though it would solve a couple of problems." He knitted his brow. "I wondered if you might be willing to join my band. It would give you time to spend with Maddie and Levi plus you really are the best guitar player I know. I know you can learn my new stuff pretty quickly and help me get my album done." She took a deep breath. "What do you think?"
He hesitated before he responded. He was surprised at her ask. He figured she really was desperate if she was asking him. And no wonder she was nervous to ask him. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Actually it's really not what I would want but like I said, it would solve a couple of problems. But you are the best guitar player out there and I know you and I can work well together on stage. At least I hope we still can." She paused. "This is not ideal, for so many reasons. I worry about how we co-exist like this. I feel like it's the perfect solution for you and the kids to be able to spend time together, so that's probably what's at the top of my list for why I would even ask. Do you think you can do it?"
"I can do whatever you need, Rayna. And I appreciate you trying to figure out a way to give me time with the kids. I know this will be, um, awkward at best."
She nodded. "Yeah, I think that's true. I want to be sure you understand that this is professional only."
"I do." He smirked a little. "I'm surprised Bucky let you do this."
"Well, you know as well as anyone that nobody 'lets' me do anything, but he did think I was crazy to even consider it. And maybe I am."
His mind was spinning. "I'll respect your boundaries, Rayna. I promise."
"You know, I felt like those couple days we were stuck together at the cabin showed that we could, if we tried, be friends. Or at least friendly. It surprised me, actually. You put me through hell, Deacon, for a lot of years. I still haven't quite gotten past all that. But in spite of that I want you to prove me wrong. Prove that we can get past the anger and the pain and the damage and find a way to come together for our children. Who deserve that."
He was probably being delusional, but he had thought they had come to some sort of peaceful coexistence, but it seemed she wasn't there yet. "They do deserve that." He took a deep breath. "I appreciate the chance, Rayna. I promise you won't regret it." He stood up then, as did she.
"I hope I don't." He turned then and headed for the door. "I'll have Bucky send over a contract." He looked at her and nodded. Then he opened the door and let himself out.
He half expected the contract wouldn't come, that he would realize it had all just been a dream, or that she would have decided it wouldn't work after all. He knew it was a big ask for her and a big sacrifice in order to ensure he could spend time with Levi and Maddie. She had also sent over the music and demos for her new songs for the upcoming album, as well as a tentative set list for her shows. That also meant learning even more new music. It was a lot, even for him, but he was confident he could do it. She was clear that the songs she'd taken off her playlist since they'd broken up were still off the table and that he would have to learn new material that she'd written in the aftermath of the breakup. He would ride on the band bus, which he'd expected. She told him she hoped that at some point he could help with her set lists on tour, as he had in the past. Whether that came to be, he guessed time would tell.
Rehearsals started 2 days later to get prepared for the album. He thought she had a very aggressive schedule but he knew she was determined to get the album out before the tour started Memorial Day weekend. The music industry had certainly changed a lot since the days they were just getting started. Back in those days an album took weeks or even months to record, remix, and release. These days, depending on the equipment and studio time, an album could be created in less than a week and be released almost instantaneously. She had told him that she had quite a library of music she'd either written herself or written with a carefully curated group of co-writers. As he listened to the demos he was very impressed with what she'd done. Not surprised, but definitely impressed. But then he'd always known what a great songwriter she was, even when she didn't think so herself.
After listening through all the demos, he kept going back to one that wasn't listed for the album. He was surprised by that, because it was a beautiful song, one that was perfect for her voice. She could sing anything, but he'd always especially liked the quiet ones. He knew it wasn't a decision for him to make, but he wanted to at least talk to her about including it. he picked up his phone.
"Hey," she said when she answered, sounding a little surprised.
"Hey. Look, I been working on these new songs and there's one you sent that I wondered why you weren't recording."
"Which one?"
"Sanctuary."
"Oh." She was quiet for a moment. "I didn't realize I sent that one over. I'm not sure it really fits though."
"It's a gorgeous song, Rayna. I know it don't matter what I think, but you should release it. If it ain't too personal, I guess."
She was silent for long enough that he wondered if she was still there. "It is personal," she said finally. "Very personal." She stopped again for a second. "I wrote it for Maddie and Levi, back before Levi turned 1. I've just been hesitant to put it out there."
"Why?"
"I don't really know." She paused. "You really think it goes with the rest of the songs?"
"Well, it's different, but it's too good not to record it."
"I'll think about it. thanks for your input."
It wasn't for him to decide, as he'd told her, but he'd wait to see what she decided. Turn the light off, go to bed. Tell me all about the day you had. Lay beside me, it's time to rest. You can close your eyes, you've done your best. Although there were many reasons he'd been glad she'd ultimately decided not to marry Luke, one of the most important was her love for Maddie and Levi. He had been glad for them that she'd put away the lifestyle they would have had, which had worried him. He'd tried to stay out of it, trusting her to make good decisions for their children, but he'd been concerned that she wouldn't have time to be the mother she'd always wanted to be. He didn't know if it was a primary reason for her decision, but knowing her as he did, he thought it probably was.
Rayna
Just as she'd expected, Deacon had picked up the new music for her album easily. There were so many reasons she questioned herself for asking him back into her band, but the 2 primary reasons she ultimately had were good decisions. First was that she could depend on him musically. Even if he hadn't played her music in 5 years, he was exactly what she needed. It wasn't just his ability to learn her music, it was the way he knew her. Having him back made her realize just how much she had missed that. Any other guitar player would have failed. The other reason, actually the most important reason, was the look of joy on her children's faces when she told them Dad would be traveling with them.
Her schedule was tight as her band got prepared for recording the album. It was another reason she was glad to have Deacon back with her. She had not said he would be the bandleader, but most of her band had worked with him when he had been that for her and they still seemed to look to him for guidance. Which of course he gave them. They were more than ready to go into the studio and lay down the musical tracks. Almost as soon as she had done the lyrical tracks, the background vocals were ready. She listened to the album all the way through with Bucky and Watty.
She was sitting across from them. "What did you think?" she asked, feeling a little anxious as she always did when an album was complete.
Watty shook his head. "As always, my little songbird, it's brilliant." She smiled and felt a sense of relief. Watty's opinion was one she always cherished. "Your fans are going to love it."
Bucky nodded. "They are. It's classic Rayna Jaymes. And I'm glad you added Sanctuary."
"Thanks, y'all. I'm just so glad we were able to get it done."
After Bucky left to deal with tour matters, she sat with Watty. "How is having Deacon back going?" he asked.
She made a face. "I felt like I didn't have a choice. I needed a lead guitar player and he's the best. He wasn't touring with anyone, and I also knew he could learn my catalog quickly. It's not ideal, for a lot of reasons, but I was kind of in a bind after Luke and I split up." She sighed. "It's also good for Maddie and Levi. They'll get to spend plenty of time with him and they're happy about that."
"What about you?"
She shrugged. "It's a professional relationship. There are definite benefits for sure, professionally. If you're wondering about the personal side, well, we're Maddie and Levi's parents. That's all it is."
Watty looked at her thoughtfully and she felt a flash of irritation. She was determined to make this work and to keep the focus on the professional side. Then he smiled. "I know the two of you are very dedicated to your children and I'm sure you'll make this work for their sakes. Both of you."
She felt more of a sense of ease. She would do anything for her children, and she knew Deacon would as well. Even if it was uncomfortable.
Deacon
He had put all his gear into the bus. When he turned, he saw Rayna with the kids. He smiled, grateful to get to spend the summer with them. They were excited to be going out on the road with both Mom and Dad. Rayna had opened her tour with 2 sell out shows at the Ryman, a place where they both liked to perform. It was one of those places, in his opinion, that was almost sacred. Considering it had originally been a church, sacred was a good word for it. It was a more intimate space with perfect acoustics, which made it a wonderful place for a show. The tour would close at the arena a short walk away, perfect bookends for her Little Bits of Heaven tour. The record was already climbing the charts, even in the short time since its release. The buzz was positive and Rayna already had a single on radio.
He couldn't deny it felt a little bittersweet. He had toured with Rayna for 15 years. In the beginning it was just the 2 of them but as time went on the stages they found themselves on were larger, the audiences were bigger, and she'd added a band over time. They had worked together so closely on not only the music, but setlists, sets, and stage presence. Once she'd gotten onto her first big tour, Rayna's career had really skyrocketed, and he'd been there for all of it. But he'd wanted his own career in the beginning and, even though he'd been happy being her bandleader and cowriter, he still had the itch. It ultimately hadn't turned out the way he'd hoped and now he was back where he'd started. Sometimes he thought he should feel a little bitter about how things had gone, but the truth was he felt like he was back home. Maybe not in all the same ways but working with Rayna had always been something he'd been proud of.
"Dad! Dad!" Maddie and Levi shouting for him brought him back to the present. He grinned as he watched them race across the parking lot towards him. He grabbed them both in his arms and hugged them tight.
"Hey, you two," he said, turning his head to each of them as he held them close. He heard footsteps and looked up to see Rayna approach. She had an indulgent smile on her face.
Levi looked up at her, an arm around his neck. "Mom, can I ride with Dad?" he shouted. Levi was still shouting out most things and it always made him smile.
"Me too, Mom," Maddie pleaded.
"Nobody wants to ride with me?" she asked, pretending to be hurt.
He looked back and forth between them. "Someone should ride with Mom. You can trade another time." He looked at her. "It's just a couple hours anyway." They were headed for Chattanooga, where Rayna would be performing that night.
After a moment of hesitation, Maddie walked over to Rayna. "I'll ride with Mom this time."
"We'll see y'all in Chattanooga then, okay?" he said, as he took Levi's hand.
"We will," Rayna said and when she and Maddie turned to head for her bus, he and Levi walked up the steps to the band bus. He got his son settled on the bus, happy for the opportunity to share this with him.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, he was hit with the reality that this was the first time Levi had traveled with him on a tour bus. The thought nearly overwhelmed him as he was reminded, yet again, of what he'd given up.
He was looking down onto the arena floor below. Seats had been placed on the wood floor and the runway was being set up into the center of the seats. The road crew was starting to set up the stage. Rayna's set was not as flamboyant as some, but it was fitting for someone who was the Queen of Country. There were 3 massive screens behind the stage proper and they would be used to showcase Rayna, for those seated up where he was, and also to display backgrounds of fluffy clouds, brilliant lights, and rainbows. Those little bits of heaven. The lighting was all soft colors designed to complement the tour theme. He hadn't seen any of her stage costumes but was sure there'd still be lots of denim, rhinestones, and allure, with some sexy thrown in.
He'd sat in the upper level of seats almost every single show he ever performed in, before sound check, to remind himself to sing out to the people in the cheapest seats that were farthest away from the stage. It was something he and Rayna had done together back when she started performing in larger arenas as an opener. It was a way to remind themselves that to some, they were small and hard to see unless they were watching the big screens. It was a way to stay humble. It had come from his earliest experiences going to concerts when all he could afford were the cheapest seats in the rafters of an arena.
He leaned back against the seat, his feet perched on the back of the seat behind him. When he heard footsteps, he put his feet on the floor and sat up. He watched Rayna emerge from the stairs that led to the section and then walk up the steps to where he was sitting. She sat next to him, resting her elbows on the armrests and clasping her hands together. "How'd you know I was here?" he asked.
"I figured you were still doing this," she said, then smiled. "You're a creature of habit."
He smiled back then looked out over the arena. "It's always a good reminder."
"It is." He looked back at her. "I do it too." He raised his eyebrows with surprise. She shrugged. "It's a good way to kind of clear my head. Get away from the craziness of backstage for a minute before I have to go lay it all out there." They sat in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again. "Levi couldn't stop talking about riding the bus with you."
He smiled a little. "It was fun. The guys played some and he enjoyed that. He explored everything. He, uh, asked me if he could have his own bunk." He looked at her.
"Are there enough?" she asked. He nodded. "He always thinks it's an adventure. Which I guess it is to someone as young as he is. Maddie was like that too." She was quiet for a moment. "I'm glad you're back, Deacon. I think the tour will be better for it and I'm happy you'll be able to spend more time with our kids."
"That's a plus."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "Are you happy with the decision you made, Deacon? I have to be honest and tell you that it worries me a little. Actually, a lot. This wasn't what you wanted, back 5 years ago."
He looked back out over the arena, towards the stage. "What I wanted 5 years ago was a chance to see if I could make it as a solo artist. Do what I'd come to Nashville to do. It ain't like I forgot how much work it was when you were doing it, but a lot's changed too." He sighed, then looked at her. "I am happy that I decided to do this. That you asked me to. It was never that I didn't enjoy working with you, being part of your band, Rayna. I took a chance on something I wanted and it didn't work out. I wish I'd handled it different, but I wouldn't do this if I wasn't okay with it." He sat forward. "I'm gonna...get going. I wanna check on things, be sure I got what I need. I'll, um, see you at sound check."
She nodded. "Okay. See you then."
He got up and walked away from her, down the steps to the exit to the plaza level. He was glad to be back, but he also knew things were tenuous between them. He hoped it wouldn't stay that way for long.